Carmen Ayuso | PubMed Health

PubMed2026

Generation of isogenic gene-corrected cell lines from a USH2A-RP patient-derived iPS cell line.

Comparative studies using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with those from healthy individuals as controls are flawed by genetic background contribution to disease phenotype. Here, we used precise gene editing to generate gene-corrected isogenic control lines for a single pathogenic variant in the USH2A gene (c.2276G > T) associated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Both homozygously and heterozygously corrected cell lines were successfully generated. These cell lines will serve to unravel RP phenotype differences specific to the USH2A mutation upon their conversion into disease relevant cell types.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2025

Bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in POC5 cause a syndromic retinal, endocrine, and neuromuscular ciliopathy.

PURPOSE: A homozygous loss-of-function (LoF) variant in POC5 was previously described in an individual with retinitis pigmentosa. We identified POC5 variants in 12 probands with a syndromic phenotype. We aim to define the phenotype spectrum and molecular mechanism associated with biallelic POC5 LoF variants. METHODS: We studied a cohort of 12 families with bi-allelic LoF POC5 variants and performed detailed phenotype analysis. POC5 localization studies were performed in 3 proband-derived fibroblast cell lines. RESULTS: Detailed phenotyping of probands with POC5 variants expands the phenotype spectrum beyond ocular manifestations. This syndrome causes not only rod-cone dystrophy but also diabetes mellitus with severe insulin resistance and partial lipodystrophy, kidney disease, and muscle cramps. The POC5 protein plays an essential role during cell cycle and cilium formation. Interestingly, POC5 localization studies in 3 proband-derived fibroblast cell lines show aberrant localization suggesting a ciliary defect. The phenotypes of the 12 families in this study fit well within the ciliopathy phenotype spectrum, except for lipodystrophy, which is not common in ciliopathies. CONCLUSION: We describe a multiorgan syndrome caused by bi-allelic LoF variants in POC5. This underscores the pleiotropic effects of POC5 variants and highlights the significance of adipose tissue and metabolic dysfunction in ciliopathies.

Humans↗